What Would Happen if the Troops Left in April 2008?

The House approved the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act today by a vote of 223-201. The fell right along party lines, with four Republicans voting with the Democrats while 10 Democrats voted with Republicans.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor today in support of H.R. 2956:

Passage of Chairman Skelton’s bipartisan bill will reflect he will of the American people and reaffirm the judgment of the House. That the redeployment of our troops is a central element in an effective way forward in Iraq. We will repeat that judgment legislatively as often as necessary, hopefully with an increasing level of support from our Republican colleagues, until pressure from the American people causes the President to change his mind and his policies.

I’m not surprised that this bill was approved in the House and might have a chance in the Senate. However, if that does happen Bush won’t think twice about pulling his veto pen.

However, as more and more of these votes come up I think what would happen if we began to leave Iraq. There are great posts (part one & part two) I found on this very topic.

I think these are great questions to think about:

If we withdrew from Iraq today…

…what would happen to the U.S. image world-wide? Would it become worse or be better than it now is?

… what would be the plight and future of the Iraqi people?

… what would happen to the Iraqi government? Will maintain democracy?

… what impact would such a move have on the security of the greater Middle-East? Who would it help, who would it harm (if anyone)?

… what impact would it have on terrorist movements across the World? Would the US be safer from Terrorist attacks?

… what would Iran and Syria do? Would Iran attempt to install an Islamic government based on their theocracy? If so, is that a bad thing?

… would Iraq fall into full civil war that would evolve into another Somalia or Sudan?

… what would happen to the booming economies in the Northern (Kurdish) and Southern parts of Iraq?

… who would control the oil? Would the Iraqi people benefit from it?

… what do China and Russia do? Do they seek to exert their influence more?

… what economic impact does it have on the US? Does it promote or denigrate American economic interests and influence throughout the World?

I have being speaking against the war since the very beginning, but I do worry about what happens if we leave. It is no secret that the American people are not favor of the Iraq War; however, I’m concerned that if we leave before the Iraqi Gov’t is ready we would be doing more harm then good…